SK Telecom, the nation’s largest telecom service provider, has succeeded in exporting its AI network solution to Bharti Airtel, India’s largest communications service provider. It takes on significance that a software solution produced based on a Korean telecom service provider’s operation expertise has been exported abroad.

SK Telecom and Bharti Airtel signed a strategic partnership on the transfer of the former’s AI network technology and capabilities on the sideline of the Mobile World Congress Americas held in San Francisco on Sept. 12. SK Telecom Park Jung-ho and Bharti Airtel Chairman Sunil Bharti participated in the signing ceremony. 

Bharti Airtel with a membership of 280 million subscribers is the No. 1 telecom service provider in India and the 3rd ranked in the world. Bharti Airtel has been redoubling substations in the recent two years to change into LTE networks. 

SK Telecom’s exporting of its AI network solution to Bharti Airtel was possible after Bharti Airtel Chairman Bharti toured SK Telecom to leverage experiences and expertise SK Telecom has accumulated while commercializing LTE network in the shortest period in the world. Bharti, the founder of Bharti Airtel, serve as the chairman of the board of directors of the GSMA m a global association of mobile operators.

 The partnership will work across several areas including developing bespoke software to dramatically improve network experience, leveraging advanced digital tools including machine learning, big data and building customized tools to improve network planning based on every customer’s device experience. 

The capacity to identify, monitor and deliver improvements to the network experience on an individual device basis will be a first in India, helped by SK Telecom’s global leadership in this area.

 The two companies will also collaborate on an on-going basis to evolve standards for 5G, Network Functions Virtualization (NFV), Software-defined Networking (SDN) and Internet of Things (IoT), and jointly work towards building an enabling ecosystem for the introduction of these technologies in the Indian context.

 “SK Telecom is delighted to announce a strategic partnership with Bharti Airtel, a global leading mobile operator,” said SK Telecom President Park. “SK Telecom will work closely with Bharti to achieve new network innovations so as to deliver a greater value to Bharti’s customers.”

 “We are extremely delighted to announce this partnership with the world’s leading operator when it comes to technology understanding and expertise. 

This partnership will bring a dramatically improved experience to Airtel customers in India by leveraging the expertise of a company that has built one of the best mobile broadband networks in the world,” Said Sunil Bharti Mittal, Chairman of Bharti Airtel. “Strong partnerships have been a hallmark of Airtel’s growth journey and we are proud to have always looked ahead to bring the latest technology to India. 

With SK Telecom’s clear and undisputed leadership in technology, this is one partnership that will decisively change the game in India and put the country at par with the most advanced broadband nations in the world.”